Dr. John West serves as the Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina--a position he has held since 1985. His bands have performed at State and Regional gatherings of the Music Educators National Conference and have premiered works by composers Frank Ticheli, Edward Gregson, Paul Basler and others. In addition to his conducting duties with the Wind Ensemble, Dr. West is also instructor of saxophone and has taught courses in conducting, theory, and music education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. West serves frequently as a guest conductor and clinician in the Southeast and was the conductor of the Smoky Mountain Brass Band from 1992-96. He is an active performer on the saxophone in the Western North Carolina region and regularly performs with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Flat Rock Playhouse, and in numerous recital and commercial engagements.

His undergraduate degree is from the University of South Florida and his graduate degrees are from the Florida State University where he studied under Dr. James Croft. He worked as a high school band director in the public schools of Brevard County, Florida where his concert and jazz bands earned wide acclaim for excellence in performance. His professional affiliations include membership in MENC, CBDNA, NBA, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha, and Kappa Kappa Psi.

For more information on WCU Bands, saxophone studio, and the WCU Honor Band, follow this link.